British anti-racism protesters take to the streets after days of far-right unrest

Thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets of several English cities on Wednesday to protest against far-right violence that has put British police on high alert.

Night-time riots — with mosques and migrant facilities attacked — have broken out in cities and towns across England and Northern Ireland, sparked by a wave of misinformation surrounding the murder of three children on July 29.

But on Wednesday night it was the anti-racist and anti-fascist counter-demonstrators who were out in greater numbers, holding rallies in cities across England, including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Newcastle.

“Whose streets? Our streets!” protesters chanted at a rally of several thousand in Walthamstow, north-east London, where some held banners reading “Stop the far right”.

“I live in this part of the city and we don’t want these people on the streets… they don’t represent us,” Sara Tresilian, 58, told AFP, referring to the far-right.

“You have to show up (and) get that message out… I think it’s important to show up for your friends and neighbors.”

Andy Valentine, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, thanked “the communities across the capital for coming together and showing community spirit tonight”.

In Sheffield, activists chanted “Say it loud and clear, refugees are welcome here,” as riot police looked on.

In Birmingham, hundreds of anti-racism protesters gathered outside a migrant shelter, while in Brighton around 2,000 people took part in a peaceful demonstration, police said.

There was some friction, however, such as in the southern town of Aldershot, where the PA reported that police had to intervene between anti-racism campaigners and a group of people chanting “Stop the boats” – a reference to migrants reaching Britain by crossing the English Channel.

The government had 6,000 specialized police officers on standby to combat the approximately 100 announced demonstrations by far-right activists and counter-demonstrators.

In a social media post, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked “all the police officers who have worked tonight to protect and support local communities”.

– ‘Tip of the iceberg’ –

Courts have begun imposing prison sentences on offenders involved in the unrest as authorities seek to prevent further trouble.

The unrest, the worst in Britain since the 2011 London riots, has led to the arrest of almost 430 people and at least 120 charges. Several countries have also issued travel advisories for the United Kingdom.

The violence broke out after three girls, aged nine, seven and six, were killed and five other children seriously injured in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, north-west England.

False rumours initially circulated on social media that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker. The suspect was later identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, born in Wales. British media reported that his parents were from Rwanda.

In the riots that followed, protesters threw rocks and flares at police officers, set cars on fire and attacked mosques and at least two hotels used to house asylum seekers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that anyone involved will face “the full force of the law”, including those who incite violence online.

Starmer, a former chief prosecutor, has promised “substantial sentences” for rioters by the end of this week, and his government has freed up an extra 500 prison places.

Dozens of suspects, including teenagers, have already appeared in court.

A man was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to violent disorder and assault on a police officer in Southport.

Two other men were given sentences of 20 and 30 months for taking part in violence in Liverpool on Saturday.

“The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg and just the beginning of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to engage in violent unrest,” said prosecutor Jonathan Egan.

– EDL accused –

Police blamed the unrest on figures linked to the now-defunct English Defence League (EDL), a far-right Islamophobic organisation founded 15 years ago whose supporters have been linked to football hooliganism.

EDL founder Tommy Robinson has been accused by authorities of stoking tensions. Police in Cyprus, where he was reportedly on holiday, said on Wednesday they were ready to assist British police if necessary.

However, Robinson later wrote on the social media platform X: “Luckily I’m not in Cyprus.”

The meetings are announced on far-right social media channels under the slogan ‘Enough is enough’.

British lawmakers have accused social media sites of stoking the violence. Tech billionaire and X-owner Elon Musk in particular angered the government with a series of provocative tweets, including one claiming that a British “civil war is inevitable”.

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